A truck transporting 300 gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled yesterday afternoon on the corner of Nicholson Drive and North Stadium Road, preventing anyone parked near the spill from leaving.
The Brenntag Group, a global chemical distributing company, owns the truck that was traveling west on Nicholson Drive. To avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him, the driver slammed on his breaks causing the weight of the container holding the acid to shift, LSUPD Maj. Ricky Adams said. The container ruptured and leaked 200 gallons of the corrosive acid from the back door of the truck.
Police, firefighters and University transportation workers blocked all entrances leading to Nicholson Drive. The road was closed from the West Chimes Street intersection to Nicholson Extension and remained closed at press time.
University transportation workers detoured vehicles to Highland Road.
Officials said Tuesday afternoon that parking and traffic on Nicholson Drive should be normal by this morning.
Workers specialized in toxic waste cleaned the spill with lime powder, which neutralizes the acidity of hydrochloric acid.
Maj. Adams said LSUPD still is investigating the incident. He said they will decide after interviewing more witnesses whether to charge the driver with a moving violation.
He said state police will issue an unsecured load citation.
Officials are taking their time handling the hazardous material.
There still were about 70 gallons of acid on the ground at 5:30 p.m. yesterday, four hours after the estimated time of the spill.
Students who parked in the lots near Alex Box Stadium and Bernie Moore Track Stadium and on Nicholson Drive were unable to leave campus in their cars. Nicholson Apartments residents who were at home could not leave and residents who were not at home could not return to their apartments.
Many students stood around the scene watching and waiting to find out when they could get home.
Kalie Hairston, an English sophomore, said she was aggravated because officials could not give her an estimated time the spill would be cleaned. She said she needed to drive to work at 6 p.m.
Vincent Perry, a communication studies junior, said he was worried that his car may have damage because it was parked on Nicholson Drive near the spill.
Clay Wade, southwest vice president of said the company is transporting the remanding 100 gallons of acid to the company plant in St. Gabriel, about 15 miles south from Baton Rouge. He said they are sucking the acid from the ruptured tank with a high-powered vacuum.
 
Additional reporting by Adrien Martin.